Our enormous thanks to John Hughes for spending time on the blog this morning. He was at Celtic throughout a very special time, making his anecdotes and stories all the more valuable.
Here’s an extract from his book, Yogi Bare, which is due out soon:
“Jock Stein and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. I recall receiving a ferocious verbal volley after a game against Hibs at Easter Road in January 1968. My offence? I went to offer my condolences to their right-back Bobby Duncan in their dressing room.
Unfortunately, Bobby had suffered a broken leg when I slid it to try to block the ball. His ankle got caught up in my outstretched leg and he collapsed to the turf in obvious pain. It was a complete accident, I hasten to add. The conditions were slippy that afternoon and we just collided with neither of us able to pull out.
Unhappily, the defender had to be stretchered off and I felt sick. I never went out to injure an opponent; not once. Frankly, I wouldn’t have known how to, but I did know some players who were well versed in the black arts. No names. No pack drills. No lawyer’s letters! It just wasn’t the right-back’s day because he had also sliced a clearance into his net to give us a second minute lead.
Bobby Lennox added a second shortly afterwards and it was game over. But Bobby Duncan’s game, unfortunately, didn’t last until the ninetieth minute and I headed for the home dressing room as soon as the referee blew for time-up. I was concerned for the player who, although he was a gritty campaigner, was never dirty.
I mixed with the Hibs players and told Bobby I genuinely hoped he would make a fast recovery. He accepted my good wishes and I thought that was the end of it.
Suddenly, though, Colin Stein, who would later join Rangers, barged through his team-mates to have a go at me. He accused me of deliberately trying to injure Bobby. I wasn’t having any of that and told him to get lost. I didn’t stop to think I was actually in the Hibs dressing room.
The usual pushing and shoving ensued before I was thrown out into the corridor. Jock wanted to know what all the commotion was about. I gave him my version of events and he blew up.
‘What do you want to do that for?’ he bellowed. ‘It’s bad enough the boy’s got a broken leg, but you’ve got to go and make it worse!’ I protested my innocence, by which time he was in full flow. ‘What a daft thing to do.’ And so on.
I thought it had been a meaningful gesture from one professional to another, but Jock, clearly, disagreed. Sometimes you couldn’t win with that man.
Please don’t get me wrong. This is not a Big Yogi versus Big Jock chapter in my life story. I just want the supporters to be aware of the facts. For a start, I think he did me an enormous favour by pushing me out from centre-forward to the left wing.
I was happy enough in the central role, but Jock thought I could be more effective when I was taking passes on the half-turn. I would be off and running within seconds of the pass arriving at my feet. In the main striker’s role, though, I would often have my back to goal. Controlling the ball in those circumstances would add vital seconds onto the manoeuvre. A centre-half could be breathing down my neck, forcing me to push the ball back for a midfielder. At outside-left, though, I could skin a right-back if he got too close. And once I was away, there was no stopping me.”
You can order a signed copy of the book by clicking on the graphic to the right of the page.
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If Murray goes back to Ibrox that means the £850m redevelopment will happen, including the helipad, casino and retractable pitch.
Sno fair so it isnae.
There’s more chance of Chic Murray (RIP) taking over at Ibrox in 2015.
Starry
I know …just BS
the SDM story is awful BS …he’s burst and his company is screwed …..read an article about it last week …I’m sure he’s not in penury …but he doesn’t have millions to waste on a lower league fitba team
Stein……………..
If you are right, I’ll eat my hat………
I can see the reasons for people putting forward Izzy,VVD and FF as POTY
(Jeez,did Mitch write the above?)
But along with Efe,they played as a unit,only our right-back varied through the season.
Kris Commons didn’t know from one game to the next who his midfield and attacking partners would be,yet still coped sufficiently to give us nearly 30 goals this season.
That’s good enough for me,folks.
Stein………………………..
you’ve redeemed yersel…..
;)
HH
Celtic Mac
17:31 on
17 April, 2014
fritzsong
Certainly there was no shortage of talented players back in those days, or strong characters for that matter but it did need Big Jock to channel their abilities into a winning mentality. That is not to say we couldn’t play, two Scottish Cup finals, in 1961 and 1963, lost after replays, then of course 1965, winning both the Scottish Cup and League Cup, (thanks in no small part to Big Yogi) and if my memory serves me well, also the Glasgow Cup at Parkhead.
*I believe that John broke norrie martin’s hand with a rasping shot in the latter game.
Logged in today and a new poster, John Hughes, was posting almost every second post. I think Paul67 should have rules for the new posters and limit their posts ;)
OK CQNers. Cut the crap and just tell me. ARE THEMS DEAD YET?
I’ll be 107 I’d be fair chuffed to make it but don’t suppose holding my breath would help.
Did anyone ask Yogi if he was a Hun? :-))
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL
Good point. I reckon that to post that quickly he must be an experienced typist.
Who knows,maybe an MSM troll?
Well done on outing him,I’ll ignore him in future.
WeeFra, DixieDeans, I hope we are all there together.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy
22:27 on
Yes they did, can’t remember who but Yogi came back and asked “are you”
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY
Aye.
BOBBYRUSSELL
The reply was priceless-No,are you?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
22:28 on
lol
bankiebhoy1 22:24 on 17 April, 2014
That was an unfortunate slip.
I might think Boyd’s a decent enough fullah, but he is fourth on that short-list.
Eddie, BMCUWP he did have a bit of help in the typing, but the words were his own.
Alex Gordon, the man who wrote the book was at the keyboard, Yogi was very busy signing hundreds of books, many with personal messages for birthdays, special Tims, for me, his gave his Best Wishes to Auld Doc.
and Auld Doc will get it as soon as I finish reading it:-)
eddie,
Reading back, and it doesnt’t look like he has been asked if he is a hun :-)
doc
Mmmmmmm ye never know. These BP tablets are amazing. Haha
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
when Bobby Russell first asked the question, Yogi wisnae chuffed.
but had a laugh when I explained what was going on.
BMCUW
Why are you no at work??? :-))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for We Oscar.
Richie, yes he was BobbyRussell did the honours, the rebuke was hard.
Oops….. Wee
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
eddieinkirkmichael
22:25 on 17 April, 2014
I was shocked that he didn’t get the traditional welcome.
“John Hughes, are you a h*n”?
Tradition isn’t what it used to be.
Love to see youse all there, especially all who are having difficulties at the moment.
Hail Hail, god bless.
Enjoyed reading back tonight, Yogi is a class act. I was so jealous of Doc and WC being in the company of one of my heroes.
Can’t wait to attend the Lions Night down in Greenock Celtic supporters club in June, pity Jinky can’t make it as he could have rowed me home over the Clyde to Helensbugh, if anyone else wants to volunteer I can bring my own oars.
Oscar Knox – the Celtic Tiger. Keep fighting Oscar.
doc
22:35 on 17 April, 2014
Oops, missed that.
Anyway these sessions are great. Well done CQN.
WEEFRATHETIM
Preparing,mate.
Nicotine and caffeine required first.
Lots of it on a Thursday…
Eddie and BMCUW
Thanks for the reply. Brilliant! Trust the ghuys on here. They never let you down! Yogi lived in the same part of Coatbridge as me. What a player!
Eddie, it was magic.
Great fun, and, well the stories.
They are in the book, an honest mhan telling his story how he wanted it told.
he had the help of a good journalist, I know they are few and far between, but he found one.
I’m sure you got that impression from today.
No words were minced.
Tom Molach
22:38 on
I’ll second that mate, couldn’t participate as the boss doesn’t like us using mobiles at work. I did however take a few toilet breaks and really enjoyed the Q&As.
My friends in Celtic,
talking about Crystal Palace. IMO it is not just Joe Ledley that has made the difference .It is a manager that uses his head. :-)
hh.
Ps: For anybody planning to go to Blackpool, wrap up its Baltic.
Tom Molach, the look I got when I read out the question, I think I said something like “Don’t shoot the messenger”
and Tom, apologies for misspelling your name this morning, it was busy with lots of questions being asked this morning and not everything could be checked.
The Onion Flans making more demands tonight.
They must be after a world record of rebuffs.
Good night all
Oscar yer my hero wee mhan :))
DOC
Outsiders just don’t understand our ways….